Two prongs to this fork. Both good.
Completely agree with your hope that the publicity this is getting could, perhaps, instil into the masses some sense that their online privacy could be worth considering.
Over on the other side of the coin: I'm also inclined to hope, probably equally wishfully, that a fittingly draconian sentence for this wanton negligence could serve as a desperately needed rocket up the arses of the rest of the smug, conceited & complacent "social media" racket corporations.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
